description Pertusaria amara Overview
Pertusaria amara, now generally treated as Lepra amara, is a gray, crustose, bark-dwelling lichen with small, white, punctiform soralia. It is distinguished from similar species by picrolichenic acid, which produces an intensely bitter taste and a KC-positive violet reaction. It is common on mesic tree bark and is only rarely recorded on soil or rocks.
help Pertusaria amara FAQ
What is Pertusaria amara called today?
Pertusaria amara is now generally treated as Lepra amara. It is a gray, crustose lichen that grows on tree bark.
How can Pertusaria amara be identified?
It has small, white, punctiform soralia and a gray crustose thallus. Its chemistry is especially useful because picrolichenic acid gives it an intensely bitter taste and a KC-positive violet reaction.
Why is Pertusaria amara called bitter?
The lichen contains picrolichenic acid, which produces an intensely bitter taste. This chemical feature helps distinguish it from similar bark-dwelling lichens.
Where does Pertusaria amara grow?
It is a bark-dwelling lichen found growing on trees and other woody surfaces. Its crustose body and small white soralia remain closely attached to the bark.
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